For your information, below is an update on the Forest Creek Revitalisation Project. It has been prepared by the Implementation Group managing the progress of the project initiated by Castlemaine Landcare Group.
The Implementation Group has representatives from Mount Alexander Shire, Dja Dja Wurrung (trading as Djaara), the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and North Central Catchment Management Authority as well as from Friends of Campbells Creek and of course, Castlemaine Landcare Group, whose members coordinate the work of the Implementation Group.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Forest Creek Revitalisation Project. This promised update has been somewhat delayed as we paused to take into consideration the full impact of the October 2022 floods and the ramifications for the design of the project. We’re pleased to advise that the plans to advance the project are now back on track.
Since our public consultations finished in June, 2022, we have been busy with our consultants, Alluvium, collating your feedback and using it to draft a concept design of what might be achievable in the creek as part of the revitalisation works.During the public consultations, the online survey asked seven questions, with a combination of closed and open-ended questions. The survey sought to understand the types of visitors to Forest Creek, their sense of connection to the site, why they visited, how they used the area, and priorities for project outcomes.
There was a good response to an engagement activity of this nature, with:
115 responses to the online survey
5 responses on the interactive map
8 emailed responses.
Overall, there was very strong endorsement for the general plan to improve creek health and biodiversity, along with additional values such as improved accessibility and recognition of cultural heritage, both First Nations and post-settlement.
Through the consultations support was indicated for:
- maintaining and enhancing the heritage walls
- creation of a more natural stream form and habitat within the walls
- improved recreation and amenity opportunities alongside the creek
- maintenance of flood carrying capacity and ensuring there is no increased flood risk
- no increased fire risk.
In general design terms there was feedback to:
- create a more natural, winding, low-flow channel to encourage a contained, visible flow path
- form a series of deep pools
- create small rock riffles to provide aeration of water and pools in higher flow areas to encourage a more dynamic environment
- remove large sections, but not all, of existing reeds
- plant grasses and zones of native, aquatic plants (macrophytes) that will serve as a cover and food source for fish, frogs and (hopefully) platypus
- include habitat features such as logs and rocks (subject to the ability to fix such features in place)
- ensure that the works do not worsen any flooding.
This feedback has now been incorporated into the draft landscape design.
Our project partner, Dja Dja Wurrung, convened a Kapa Gatjin group of Djaara Elders and Traditional Owner representatives to provide input into the project, including the design phase. Kapa Gatjin (to know water) provides a Traditional Owner cultural perspective to water related matters and included undertaking an Aboriginal Waterway Assessment.
In turn, the concept drawing has been used by Alluvium to draw up a scoping report, outlining the practicalities of what needs to be done next and the formal approvals that are required to bring the project to full implementation on the ground.
To advance the project, the Forest Creek Revitalisation Implementation Group accepted the recommendation of the consultants to engage a surveyor to probe the natural surface of the creek to establish the depth of the bedrock (either natural or manmade) at various intervals in the creek and to understand the depth and nature of the sediment in the creek. That survey work is now in progress and is being developed with further input from Kapa Gatjin.
To make the concept drawings stand up more in the “mind’s eye” the Implementation Group decided to engage a landscape designer through some funds won by the group through the Integrated Water Management grants, administered by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning—now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). These grants are offered to projects seeking to enhance Victoria’s water security through the best use of all water sources, such as stormwater, rainwater, and recycled water. That landscape design work is also now underway.
Once we have the draft landscape design, we will circulate it via this email group and through various media to ensure you again have opportunity to provide feedback on what is being considered for the actual revitalisation works.
The final landscape design will of course take into account the full impact of the most recent floods, which have served well to remind us that what we create must work with what naturally occurs and not impose an engineered outcome that ignores the inevitability of future flooding.
Along with the survey work and the drafting of a landscape design other work in progress is:
- a functional design
- flow and flood modelling
- progress toward a detailed design
- soil contamination testing and assessment.
Some initial on ground works are hoped for early in 2024.
Our main focus now is to identify funding to complete the works.
Watch this space!
If you have any questions, please email castlemainelandcaregroupinc@gmail.com and we will reply to you.
The Forest Creek Revitalisation Implementation Group recognises and acknowledges our partners, the Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises, and the unique relationship and deep connection to Country shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as First Peoples and Traditional Owners of Australia. We pay our respects to their Country, Cultures and Elders past, present and emerging.
Castlemaine Landcare Group 